OAKLAND — When the Yankees signed Raul Ibanez, they believed he would be the designated hitter and possibly play a little in the outfield.

Yet, because of Brett Gardner’s strained right elbow that has him out since April 17, manager Joe Girardi has been forced to use Ibanez more in the field than originally planned.

“I thought he was going to be the DH against righties all the time,’’ Girardi said of Ibanez. “I didn’t think Gardy was going to be out a month.’’

Ibanez was in left field for the 17th time yesterday against former Yankee Bartolo Colon. He also started six games in right. And though that may have been more than the original plan, Girardi saw the shape the soon-to-be 40-year-old and the way he played the outfield during spring training and wasn’t concerned if he asked Ibanez to play more outfield.

“When I saw him in spring training and the way he was moving,’’ Girardi said of Ibanez who went 0-for-5 in a 9-2 victory. “In my mind I had him playing the outfield once a week, maybe twice a week, three times in two weeks to give some guys a blow.’’

* Girardi was more concerned with Derek Jeter rolling his left wrist making a diving stop in the hole in the second than getting hit high and in the back of the left arm in the eighth inning.

“I was concerned,’’ said Girardi, who was almost out of the dugout to check on the shortstop. “But Robby [Cano] waived us off.’’

Jeter went 2-for-4 and tied George Brett for 14th place on the all-time hit list with 3,154.

* Girardi said he isn’t concerned a second setback to Brett Gardner’s strained right elbow could end the left fielder’s season but he is worried that another problem might keep Gardner out until after the All-Star break (July 9-12).

“I have a concern a little bit about that. The whole season? No,’’ Girardi said. “If we have another setback you are probably looking at the All-Star break. You have to make sure that when you go out and play some [minor league] games you don’t feel it at all. No pressure, not a little bit of swelling, nothing.’’

Gardner will swing a bat tomorrow in Tampa, and that will tell the Yankees what the next step is.

“I don’t think it will take too long,’’ Girardi said. “He has a couple of [rehab] games in. Will it take a little bit longer than the last time? Maybe. You got to see him play in games.”

* According to Girardi, Ivan Nova didn’t show any signs that a right hamstring problem he battled last week worsened after Nova pitched Friday night. … David Robertson will throw tomorrow in Tampa and likely will need several minor league rehab games before coming off the disabled list.

* Catcher Chris Stewart was charged with a passed ball in the fourth inning. It was his sixth passed ball in Stewart’s last four starts.